NBA Swing: Will These NBA Players Make the Basketball Hall of Fame?

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Last weekend, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was inducted into the Hall. Notable names across the basketball world include coach Doc Rivers and Mike D’Antoni, NCAA coach Mark Few, referee Joey Crawford, and WNBA legends Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne. One inductee would be a topic of conversation, with Amar’e Stoudemire being inducted.

Coming out of high school, Stoudemire would play 14 seasons in the league and would be a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA. Stoudemire would finish with 15,994 points, 6,632 rebounds, 1,050 assists, and 1,054 blocks. He would have a short career in Israel, where he would win several championships and a league cup. He would also have a bronze medal from the 2004 Olympics and a gold medal from the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. Many would argue he was not fit for the Hall of Fame, raising the question for several other players who are currently eligible or will be eligible for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in the coming years.

Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin first became eligible for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2026 and was a finalist, but did not make the Hall of Fame in his first attempt. Before entering the NBA, Griffin would spend two seasons playing at Oklahoma, where he would be National College Player of the Year (2009), AP College Player of the Year (2009), Big 12 Player of the Year (2009), and Consensus first-team All-American, while also winning several other awards.

Being drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2009, Griffin would spend 8 of his 13 active seasons in the league with the Clippers. He would win rookie of the year in 2011, and as a part of the Lob City Clippers, Griffin would have his best years in the league, going to the playoffs every year from 2012 to 2017, finishing top 10 in MVP voting twice and being All-NBA four times in that span.

He would spend a couple of seasons in Detroit, where he would make the All-NBA Third Team once, before the injury bug set in. He would spend his last three seasons with Brooklyn and Boston, where he would play a reduced role. He would finish his career with 765 regular-season games, 14,513 points, 6,109 rebounds, 3,055 assists, 627 steals, and 359 blocks. Griffin’s legacy on the court comes from his time spent with the Los Angeles Clippers and his highlight dunks. Despite the lack of accolades throughout his career, Griffin was easily one of the most must-watch players of the early 2010s. Basketball Reference currently gives Griffin a 54% chance of making the Hall of Fame.

Derrick Rose

One of the more controversial names when the Hall of Fame is mentioned, Derrick Rose is not eligible for the Basketball Hall of Fame until 2028. Prior to his time in the NBA, Rose would play a single season at Memphis, leading the Tigers to the NCAA Championship in 2008. Rose’s NBA career would be defined by two different versions of the player: before the ACL tear and after the ACL tear.

Rose would be drafted by his hometown Chicago Bulls as the first pick of the 2008 draft and would play seven seasons in Chicago. He would win rookie of the year in 2009, would be a three-time All-Star, and would be both All-NBA and MVP in 2011. To this day, Rose remains the youngest MVP in league history, winning MVP at 22 years old. He would tear his ACL in the first round of the 2012 playoffs and would never be the same player again. He would play three more seasons in Chicago after coming back from the ACL tear but would not be the same player.

Rose, however, would redefine who he was as a player after being traded from the Bulls, mainly playing most of his last seven seasons coming off the bench. Rose would retire in 2024, after a short stint with the Memphis Grizzlies. He would finish his career playing 723 regular-season games, with 12,473 points, 3,770 assists, and 536 steals.

He would have his jersey retired by the Chicago Bulls in 2026. Rose would also have some play on the international stage, winning gold medals in the FIBA World Cup in 2010 and 2014. When Rose’s Hall of Fame eligibility is discussed, many mention his short, several players have discussed Rose’s impact, and his name is currently etched in league history as the youngest MVP. The gold medals from international play help his odds, while others have argued for Rose’s inclusion based on others who have made the Hall of Fame. Basketball Reference currently gives Rose a 10% chance of making the Hall of Fame.

DeMar DeRozan

Still active in the NBA and likely entering year 18, DeMar DeRozan has always been one of the more underrated stars in the league. Before entering the league in the stacked 2009 draft class, DeRozan would spend one year in college, playing at USC, where he would be a part of the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team. DeRozan spent the first nine years of his career with the Toronto Raptors, where he would be a four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA. As of 2026, DeRozan is Toronto’s all-time leader in games played, points, field goals, and free throws.

After three seasons with the Spurs, DeRozan would have a small career renaissance during his time with the Chicago Bulls, becoming an All-Star two more times and landing on an All-NBA team for the third time. He spent the last two seasons of his career with the Sacramento Kings before being waived this summer. He is currently drawing interest from several teams, including Miami and Denver.

Heading into year 18, DeRozan’s career numbers are nothing to laugh at. As of the end of the 2025-26 season, DeRozan has played 1,264 regular-season games and has 26,711 points, 5,434 rebounds, and 5,185 assists. Across his last four seasons, DeRozan has averaged around 1,700 points. If he can score another 1,578 points, he will surpass Carmelo Anthony (28,289 points) for 11th all-time in scoring. If he plays at least two more seasons, he will pass Shaquille O’Neal (28,596) and will be 10th all-time in scoring in the NBA. On the international stage, DeRozan has won two gold medals, one in the FIBA World Cup in 2014, and the other in the 2016 Olympics.

Given his long career and the several years he likely has left in the tank, DeRozan still has plenty to give to the game. While his accolades are relatively low, DeRozan’s career stats have shown what he’s been able to accomplish in the league so far. Basketball-Reference currently gives DeRozan a 48% chance of making the Hall of Fame.

Andre Iguodala

Eligible for the Basketball Hall of Fame next year, Andre Iguodala could be seen as the opposite of DeMar DeRozan, having lower stats while having more accolades. After two seasons at Arizona, Iguodala would spend 19 years in the NBA across four teams. Drafted in 2004, he would spend the first eight years of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, before spending a season in Denver. He would then spend eight of his last 10 seasons in the league with the Golden State Warriors across two stints, separated by a two-year run in Miami.

Iguodala would be a part of the Warriors’ four championships in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022, winning Finals MVP in 2015. Iguodala would finish his career in 2023 with 13,968 points, 6,047 rebounds, and 5,147 assists, equaling out to averages of 11.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 4.2.APG.

In addition to his four championships, he was a one-time All-Star and a two-time member of the All-Defensive team. Iguodala would spend the first half of his career being praised for his defensive presence, while the latter half of his career would see him be a frequent name in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation. On the international stage, Iguodala would win two gold medals, one in the FIBA World Championship in 2010 and the other in the 2022 Olympics.

Outside of a few key years in Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala’s career will be defined as being a great defensive player who was also a key role player in the Warriors’ four championships. Being a part of the Warriors dynasty, Iguodala’s name will be etched in history, even if he does not have the type of stats many Hall of Fame players have. Basketball Reference gives Iguodala a 12% chance of making the Hall of Fame.

Joel Embiid

A 10-year veteran nearing the beginning of the end, Joel Embiid has had an up-and-down career. Following a single season at Kansas, Embiid would be drafted fourth in the 2014 NBA Draft but wouldn’t play his first NBA game until 2016. In his 10 active years, Embiid has proven to be one of the best big men in the league when he is not hampered by injuries. Heading into year 11, Embiid has only played 490 regular-season games, playing no more than 68 games in any season. In 10 seasons, Embiid has played 50 or more games in six seasons and 40 or less in his other four seasons.

When he has been able to play, Embiid has put up some of the best stats in the league. He has career averages of 31.2 PPG, 12.2 RPG, and 4.2 APG. The Sixers have made the playoffs eight times in the 10 seasons Embiid has played, but they’ve never made it past the second round with Embiid.

Despite the lack of playoff success, Embiid has numerous accolades to his name, including being a seven-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, a two-time scoring champion, a three-time member of the All-Defensive team, and the 2023 MVP. On the international stage, Embiid has a gold medal with Team USA from the 2024 Olympics.

With the Philadelphia 76ers’ recent offseason additions, Philly is seen as a legitimate contender by many. If the Sixers could win the 2027 NBA Championship, it would certainly help with Embiid’s case for the Hall of Fame. While the career games are low compared to many others, Embiid’s accolades are those of a Hall of Fame-caliber player. Basketball-Reference currently gives Embiid a 66% probability of making the Basketball Hall of Fame.